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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. T. B. HEATHORN.

APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING AND STEERING VBSSBLS. No. 399,530. Patented Mar. 1 1889 Wiirzess gs.- flvenz'or l i A lzommfibfizihrvv I I J3 wit? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

T. B. HEATHORN.

APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING AND- STEERING VESSELS.

tented Mar. 12, 1889.-

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UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS BRIDGES HEATHORN, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING AND STEERING VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,530, dated March 12, 1889. Application filed October 23, 188B. Serial No. 288,983. (No model.) Patented in England February 28, 1887, No. 3,095.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS BRIDGES HEA- THORN, of London, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Steering, Propelling, and Retarding the Motion of Boats and other Vessels, (for which I -have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 3,095, dated February 28, 1887,) of which the following is a description. I

This invention has reference to the construction of apparatus whereby greater convenience is affording for propelling, steering, and retarding the motion of vessels either by manual or other suitable power.

Attached hereto are drawings, of which the following is a description:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the stern end of a boat with double propeller and rudder. Fig. 2 is an end elevation showing the propellers when at their greatest divergence, and the rudder is drawn as it appears when thrust slightly to one side. Fig. 3 exhibits in plan the two propellers with their yokes and the rods by which they are worked and the tiller of the rudder. Fig. 4 is a similar plan, but showing the yokes fixed to the propellers at a different angle. Fig. 5 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1, but in which the propellers and rudder may be lifted or tilted partially out of the water. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan through a I), Fig. 5, of the arrangement where- .by the propellers and rudder-post are all hinged together. Fig. 7 is a plan of the spring-clip with the jaws closed for holding the rudder and propeller posts in place. Fig. 8 is a plan of the same with the jaws open. Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the clip with closed jaws embracing thepropeller-post, and Fig. 10 shows a modified form of clip to suit vessels having a counter.

In this invention the propeller A, 1 and 5, and A A, Fig. 2, may be used for steering as Well as propelling; but there is also an auxiliary rudder, B, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, which, though connected to it, is capable of being used independently of the propeller. The propellers are preferably of the form shown, but are not limited thereto. The rudder-post O is hinged to the stern-postD of the boat E, and the propeller-posts F F are hinged to the rudder-post O, as shown in the drawings, Figs.

1 and 2. Attached to the top of the rudderpost there is a tiller, G, for steering with, and to the top of each propeller-post there is fixed a yoke or yokes, H H, Fig. 3, or they may be fixed as in Fig. 4. These yokes have pivoted to their outer extremities rods I I, upon pulling and thrusting which alternately the propeller or combined propellers are made to sway to and fro, a further sculling motion being imparted to the propeller or propellers from the manner in which they are hung to their respective frames J J and posts F F and the action of each plate spring or springs K, J being pivoted to J at both ends. By these combined actions the vessel is propelled through the water.

For the purpose of allowing the rudder and propeller or propellers being partially lifted or tilted out of the water through shallowness of the same or other cause, I attach to the outer propeller-post abracket or brackets, O,

Fig. 5, which, by a bolt passing through them and the stern-post, become hinged to the said I stern-post. I also make the propeller post or posts F F, Fig. 5, hollow and cause the upper part of the rudder-post O to pass through them. The lower part of the rudder-post passes through an eye, L, fixed to a shoe, M, which is attached to two metal plates, N, one on each side of the stern-post; or a single plate may be bent so as to pass under the bottom of the keel and up each side of the stern-post, the bottom of the plate forming the shoe M just mentioned. These plates serve as guides to keep both the rudder and propeller posts in the same plane as the keel of the vessel when the rudder and propellers have to be lifted or tilted, which operation is performed by pulling upon the tiller G, Fig. 5.

\Vhen the boat or vessel is to be furnished with means for retarding its motion, I employ two "propellers fitted together, so that they may be opened or made to diverge from one another at pleasure, as seen in Fig. 2. This is effected by separate yokes or levers and by making the propeller-post of one propeller to pass up through the propeller-post of the other and the rudder-post to pass up through the latter, the two propeller-posts being made hollow, as before mentioned; or the two propeller-posts may be placed side by side, as

shown in Fig. 2. In the latter arrangement the propeller and rudder posts, together with the shoe, are held securely in their proper position by the application of a spring-clip, P. (Shown in Fig. 5 and to an enlarged scale in Figs. '7, 8, and 9.) This apparatusconsists of a plate of iron, Q, fixed to the sides and back of the stern-post D. On each side of the stern-post is bolted a cheek,R 'R, and to'each of these cheeks is pivoted a short lever, S S, at T T, provided with clips or jaws U U, of the form shown, and which clip or embrace the propeller-post F. The levers S S are pivoted also at the points V V to bars IVW, which are joined together by a'hinge at their other extremity, X. To the front ofthe sternpost D a spiral spring, Y, is fastened, the other end of the same spring being connected to the link Z.

In vessels built with a counterit is necessary'to have the bars W bent so as to operate upon the'clip from the deck,'the spring being'attached at the end X to the bars and theopposite end to some substantial fixture to the deck, as shown in Fig.10. In this ar rangement it is necessary to erect a bulkhead, 0, to prevent water from entering the general body of the vessel. The action of this part of the apparatus is very simple. Vhile the-clip is at rest the spring Y exerts its force, so as to keep the jaws U closed or closely in contact with F; but upon adrawing force being applied to X the jaws will be opened and F "become released, when the propeller and rudder posts may be tilted as de sired.

The propeller or propellers andrudder may in each case be used independently'of one'another; but when connected by attaching the tillers and yokes or the steering and propeli ling gear together they form a very powerful steering apparatus.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. In a vessel, the combination, with the rudder having its post fastened to the sternpost, of the vibrating propellers hinged upon the said rudder-posts and vibrating independently thereof, substantially as described.

2. In a vessel, the combination, with the rudder-post, of two independent propellers hinged to said rudder-post andadapted to be spread apart for retarding the motion of the Vessel, substantially as described.

3. In a vessel, the combination, with rudder and vibrating propeller posts, the one adapted to pass through the other, of a bracket fastened to said propeller-postand hinged to the stern-post of the vessel, and a guide at the bottom of the rudder-post, substantially as described. 7

4;. In a vessel, the combination, with the rudder-post and the propeller post hinged thereupon, but vibrating independently thereof, of a fastening device engaging said posts and normally holding them in their vertical positions, substantially as described.

5. In a vessel, the combination, with the rudder and propeller posts, connected together but moving independently one of the other, of a fastening device for engaging said posts, said device consisting of the clips or jaws U, pivoted to the stern-post and having their outer ends pivotally engaged at V with the spring impelled bars W, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sign ed my name in the presence ofv two subscribing witnesses. V

THOMAS BRIDGES HEATHORN.

VVitnes'ses: V

W. W. BENNETT, W: B. LAMPARD. 

